Committed to providing better service for over 40 years!National Pride Equipment

Pet Washing 101 Trent Walter

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IntroductionThe Four Paws Pet Wash is a cage and kennel free grooming establishment that allow pet owners to fully service their pet washing needs. All services are performed by hand including the drying(no cage drying) and hair extraction. In addition to bathing and grooming most locations add a vending center that can deliver a wide array of vending items for pets.

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PlanningWhen considering whether to build or add a pet wash system to your existing wash location, there are several items that should be budgeted in the planning phase.

Items that are often overlooked:UtilitiesSecurityParkingVendingTub packagesSignageHousekeeping LiabilitiesNote: There is a lot more to launching a pet wash operation than just having a building and a few tubs. Informing potential owners of these will enhance their ability to have a successful Pet Wash Operation and speed up the ROI.

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UtilitiesUtilities – 120 volt 20 amp service is required for the control panel. Cold water can be plumbed from an existing tap or softener. There are a few options for setting up the hot water supply. If there is an existing boiler run a line from it. If there is no hot water available use either a 30gal hot water heater or an on-demand water heater. Keep in mind, your pet wash spray nozzle is rated for 1.5 gallons per minute so the volume of hot water required is very small. A location having multiple pet washes can use 5 to 7 gallons/ min. Ideally, you want your hot water source as close to your units as possible because dogs can be startled by cold water which makes them skittish in the tub. As the operator, you want to provide a relaxed environment for the dog and the customer. In the case your hot water source is a long distance from the units, you may want to consider installing a recirculation pump to keep the water warm.  

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UtilitiesUtilities Continued – Washing pets and dealing with large amounts of hair go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, there are strainers similar to a common kitchen sink built into the tub. The strainers trap a good portion of the hair, but there is still a significant amount that floats through. When plumbing a unit, I recommend installing an additional strainer downstream of the tub similar to what is used for pools. These are not usually included in an equipment quote so make sure to ask for it. Choosing to exclude the strainer risks the chance of plugged lines, which can create costly bills for sewer cleaning down the road. The cost of strainers range from $70 - $90, definitely a good long term investment. Conditioning the air in your pet wash center is very critical. A small heating/cooling and ventilation unit (HVAC) is a must. In the winter, you will need to heat the room 65oC to 70oC and cool the room in the summer between 75oC to 80oC. Just as important, a dehumidifier is needed to keep the air dry in the room. It will help cut down on the strong pet odor that can develop. A small floor mount, 120 volt, unit would be sufficient. Secondly, an exhaust fan should be installed, for during peak business hours, the pet odor can become over powering to customers. Install a timer on the fan so that it runs only during peak business hours.

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SecuritySecurity – Due to the surrounding liabilities that go with washing dogs, a security system is a great investment. There are many good security systems on the market. Features worth having are a digital recording system (DVR) and internet viewing capabilities. The DVR can record month’s worth of activity on its hard drive. This eliminates having to put in new video tapes each day. Everything is stored in one place for convenience. Having a system set up on the internet provides a specific and secure site to view his/her pet wash. Anywhere there is access to the internet, an owner can view their pet wash.  A great example – a customer called the posted cell phone number found in the pet wash when they could not figure out how to use the equipment. The owner, over the phone and using the internet, watched and verbally walked the customer through the pet wash operation, never having to leave the comfort of his home.  The pet wash should have set hours of operation. If an attendant is not used to open and close the wash on a daily basis, a good investment would be automatic door locks, securing the pet wash without an attendant.

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ParkingParking – You should have at least one parking space per tub installed. I know it sounds simple, but many times this detail is overlooked. Do not limit the volume of service at anytime due to poor layout planning.  If you are building your pet wash center at a current car wash location, keep in mind the flow of traffic. Customers walking across any traffic lanes to get to the pet wash should be minimized so that customers or pets do not get hit by incoming or outgoing traffic. Marking a walking path with stripes and signs is a good idea.  

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SignageSignage – Pet wash centers are still a new concept to the general public. Banners and signs are critical to the exposure of a pet wash. Banners with large lettering, logos and vibrant colors are an excellent marketing tool. As an owner, strive to strike immediate interest by using simple messages as mentioned above. Banners range in cost based on the level of detail and size required. A designed banner 3’ x 9’ cost under $300 while smaller banners, 2’ x 4’ cost under $150.  New customers will have a lot of questions about how the wash functions, chemical selections and cost. The owners can answer these questions with the use of appropriate signs. Post your start up cost is and how many minutes of operation they get in return. A instruction menu explaining the proper washing procedures is a must. Additional signs explaining how each chemical works and the benefits to using it on their pet can be very helpful. Do not for get to ask your tub supplier if these items are included in one’s package

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VendingVending – There are several items that can be vended using drop-shelf vendors or mega vendors. Common items are dog treats, towels, antibacterial wipes and plastic ponchos for the customer. Making room to mount a few single or three column drop-shelf vendors is a wise choice. Single drop-shelf vendors start at $300 compared to three column $750.

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Tub PackagesTub Packages – There are several different style tubs and tub packages available on the market. The buyer should consider than how much the tub costs. Make sure to consider the tub style, the control centers, meter box functions and items included in your package.  The standard tub style is set-up for one to two people to wash the pet. This tub has a long ramp and large wash area able to accommodate large and small pets. It is recommended to have 100 square feet of floor space per tub installed. Other tubs are available and designed with only one open side. The customer has good control over the dog since the wash area is significantly smaller and boxed in one three sides. This is an excellent selection for a customer with limited floor space. This style tub requires less than 60 square feet of floor space. The only draw back to this tub is the ability to wash very large dogs. The limited wash space can make it difficult to wash pets over 150lbs.

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Tub PackagesTub Packages Continued– There are two basic control center packages available on the market, one is attached to the tub and the other is separate on a wall mount frame. Both styles function well, but if plans call on installing multiple tubs, using a remote control center would be better. Over time, large amounts of chemicals will be used. It would be to one’s advantage to run multiple draw lines off the same 5 gallon or 15 gallon pale of material, cutting the time spent refilling the small containers inside the tub’s control center. On the flip side, if one tub is going to be used, having everything in the same room will save daily maintenance time. Another solid benefit, on tub is a good selection if there is limited utility room space.  Meter boxes come with a variety of options - coin acceptors, bill acceptors and credit card systems. Personally, I recommend having all three on the meter box. Owners with credit card and bill/coin acceptors on their meter boxes are averaging over 60% of their transactions through credit cards. Average tickets are $2 higher than meter boxes with only bill/coin acceptors. Start up times of 8 to 12 minutes cost from $5 to $8 with average tickets at $10

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Tub AccessoriesTub Packages Continued– When getting a quote for a tub package, make sure one asks what is included with it. Never assume any items are included at no extra cost. Inquire about start-up chemicals, menu signs, strainers, tempering valves, pet safety ties, spray wands, spray wand hangers and tub mats as to added costs, for if not budgeted for, these items could cost an additional $500 to $700 to one’s package.

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HousekeepingHousekeeping – When building a pet wash center, you want to design it primarily for the customer’s use and secondly for easy maintenance/clean up. The walls could be finished with ceramic tile or plastic wall board. Make sure the walls and ceiling are constructed of a material that can handle the humid conditions and periodic wash downs. The floor can be as simple as painted concrete with texturing or something more elaborate such as patterned tile. Whatever one decides, make sure it can with stand being wet for long periods of time and wash down easily.  Do not have electrical or water utility outlets inside the pet wash area. Customers will bring in their own blow dryers or extractors to dry their pets instead of using the owner’s equipment. Some customers will even bring their own hose to complete the final rinse step in the water outlet provided. Don’t laugh – it has already happened to several current owners. If these outlets are provided in the pet wash area, make sure there is a way to lock them out or disconnect there service.  

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LiabilitiesLiabilities – This is the most important issue to address. As an owner of any business, being aware of what risks and liabilities one will be vulnerable to is vital. Before prices on tubs, construction costs or any other items are gathered, call your insurance agent and lawyer and discuss your plans.  If adding onto a current establishment, one may not see any increase in insurance liability coverage. Most car washes carry a minimum of two million dollars in liability coverage which should be plenty for the entire operation. Keep in mind, some smaller companies don’t have policies to cover this type of operation and they may not be able to offer coverage. When a company is found that will offer you coverage, do not forget to mention a recordable security system will be included, which may call for a discount.  After dealing with the insurance agent, contact your lawyer. Discuss the venture with him, brainstorming on issues that might arise and procedures for the owner to mitigate risk. The most common items are animal bites and injuries to an animal or another customer on the owner’s premises.  

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LiabilitiesLiabilities Continued –  Pet wash centers use a tub disinfectant which helps keep bacteria levels down. Unfortunately, the disinfectant can be harmful to pets. Make sure you have proper signage alerting the customer to this fact.  All new projects will have unforeseen challenges. As an owner, do everything possible to minimize these occurrences by carefully planning before the project commences. Doing your homework on previously mentioned items will get one started in the right directions. Try and locate a regional pet wash center to discuss with the owner any concerns. Contact a pet wash equipment distributor if no local or regional resources can be located, for it is an excellent way to review one’s plan with someone who owns and operates a pet wash. With the help of an owner and a distributor, one will be well on his/her way to owning and operating a successful pet wash center!

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Versatility• New Site• Convert a Self Serve Bay• Portable Units

Four Paws Pet Wash comes standard with everything you need to plug and wash…800-537-6788